286 – How Do We Measure Prevention, with Jeni Sorensen

Sandie is joined by Jeni Sorensen from Poverty Action to discuss research methods and data gathering approaches to help NGO's evaluate their programs. They look at the different types of data, how to design your research, and existing tools.

Jeni Sorensen

Jeni Sorensen is a human trafficking specialist with 20 years of experience designing, managing, and evaluating programs to combat human trafficking in the U.S. and around the world. Ms. Sorensen currently serves as Director of International Poverty Action’s Human Trafficking Research Initiative, which fosters partnerships between researchers and program implementers to build and carry out rigorous research studies. Previously, Ms. Sorensen served as Director of Winrock International’s Human Trafficking and Safe Migration programs, where she oversaw a $70 million portfolio of counter-trafficking programs in Asia and Latin America. Ms. Sorensen holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and an MPP from Georgetown University.

Key Points

To measure prevention impact, a theory of change and measurement of success should be identified beforehand.

To measure trainings, identify the goal of the trainings, randomize your audience, and take a pre-test and post-test.

Qualitative and quantitative data is important to humanize stories and this issue and to determine the efficiency of programs, respectively.

When gathering data, be sure to only collect data on indicators you actually have time to analyze.

Resources

IPA’s Human Trafficking Research Initiative

CART Principles

The Goldilocks Challenge: Right-Fit Evidence for the Social Sector by Mary Kay Gugerty and Dean Karlan

2022 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage Report

2022 Trafficking in Persons Report | U.S. Department of State

Seafood Watch | Monterrey Bay Aquarium

Sweat & Toil (mobile phone app) | U.S. Department of Labor

Ep. 243 - Ethical Story Telling in Prevention

To get more information about HTRI's program evaluations or their competitive fund and research funds, contact [email protected].

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Dave [00:00:00] You're listening to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. This is episode number 286, How Do We Measure Prevention, with Jeni Sorenson.

Production Credits [00:00:09] Produced by Innovate Learning, maximizing human potential.

Dave [00:00:29] Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. My name is Dave Stachowiak.

Sandie [00:00:34] And my name is Sandie Morgan.

Dave [00:00:37] And this is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. And of course, a big part of that difference is prevention, right Sandie? We've talked about this.

Sandie [00:00:48] Oh, yes! It's my favorite topic.

Dave [00:00:49] Again and again as we've gone forward. And of course, we're going to come back to this today. I'm so glad to be able to welcome an expert for us to really dive in on this further. Jeni Sorenson is a human trafficking specialist with 20 years of experience designing, managing and evaluating programs to combat human trafficking in the U.S. and around the world. She currently serves as director of IPAs Human Trafficking Research Initiative, which fosters partnerships between researchers and program implementers to build and carr...